The Triple Shad Elite

The Triple Shad Elite, is the fusion of underspin and umbrella rig fishing. The bait is made by my long time friend, Cameron Smith. Cameron has been quietly selling the Triple Shad Elite to bait shops in San Diego County for maybe a year, and now he’s stepping up and got his baits sku’d and online at Tackle Warehouse. San Diego lakes are small, highly pressured, and guys tend to be really good at tweaking their baits and thinking outside the box, because that is what you have to do to get bit and be competitive.

The Triple Shad Elite comes in various weights: 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce models, and the baits come in a good standard baitfish centric colors. They are built with 4/0 and 5/0 solid Gamakatsu hooks. I fished with Cameron this past Fall in the Ozarks, and he brought me some baits and showed me how he fishes them. Cameron will throw the bait out, and let it hit the bottom and slow grind it back to the boat, or he’ll count it down to the desired depth and slow grind it in. The bait has a lot more thump and feel to it, than underspins with a single blade. The traditional underspins can be hard to get a feel for because there is so little drag or resistance when you reel it, you aren’t sure if your bait is fouled or have any real connection with the swim of your bait. Not the case with the Triple Shad Elite. You definitely get a good feel for the bait swimming along, blades turning and thumping.

Cameron recommends Zoom Super Flukes (Regular or Jr. size) as the trailers. Traditional ball knobber or boot tailed swimbaits don’t always go well with underspin type baits. The kick of the boot tail will mess with the swim and tracking of the bait, so by using a Fluke, with a nothing, no swim, forked tail, you eliminate the trailer messing with the balance and track of the bait. Cameron I know will throw on a good old fashion curly tail grub from time to time too. You just don’t want a lot of drag created by whatever trailer you choose.

With the lessons learned of the umbrella rig and the super nova of the Alabama Rig, there is no doubt that creating a school of baitfish flat catches fish. Cameron is fusing the best of underspin fishing with the goodness of umbrella rigging, and delivering it in a single compact bait. Underspins have been quietly cashing checks on Tour, at local levels and all over country now. They are great ways to catch suspended fish, so the Triple Shad fits into a great space of suspended fish tools, that bring the multi-rig dimension where you’re giving them a school of baitfish. Cameron fishes his Triple Shad Elites on 15-17# Florocarbon a Medium Heavy 7 foot casting rod, and a standard casting reel.